How to Become a Bush Pilot

James Wynbrandt and Flying Staff

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 03:19 PM ET

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Floatplanes are staples of North American bush operations. Georgian Bay Airways

Key Takeaways:

Bush piloting is a demanding career in remote areas, requiring excellent flying skills, self-reliance, resourcefulness, and the right attitude.
There are two main career paths: missionary aviation, often requiring 500+ hours and an A&P license, and commercial operations, which focuses on specific aircraft endorsements and local experience.
Entry-level positions typically involve ground support; practical skills beyond piloting, such as mechanics or IT, significantly enhance employability for both paths.
Compensation ranges from self-funded donor support for missionary pilots ($4k-$6k/month) to varied commercial salaries ($2.5k-$8k+/month), with both offering benefits like freedom and contributing to remote communities.

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Bush pilots operate in remote areas worldwide with little operational support. Career success and survival require excellent backcountry flying skills, self-reliance and resourcefulness, and above all, the right attitude, say bush pilots Glen Ferguson and Keith Saulnier. They represent the two bush-pilot career paths you might consider: missionary aviation and commercial operations.

Saulnier owns Georgian Bay Airways in Parry Sound, Ontario, which offers a Career Bush Pilot Program, and Ferguson is CEO of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA), whose 60-some member organizations include mission-aviation fellowships and colleges with mission-aviation programs. Here are their tips for becoming a bush pilot.